This is a common warning for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a terrible idea. Experts frequently claim such situations impede individuals from finding closure, lead to scheduling chaos, lead to tension, and become annoying for all parties. As it turns out, as a development suited to a direct-to-platform film, it reportedly leads to the dogs themselves to become depressed.
While respecting the inner life of dogs – many owners observe their deep emotional capacity. If you need masterclass in pet despair, simply recall recent cinema. It seems certain that a dog of Merv's nature, a spirited little dog brought to life by Gus the Dog, would find it difficult coping with split households. The idea of basing a feature-length romcom around this situation is sustainable remains rather doubtful.Standard Holiday Fare
Fairness demands noting, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by Jessica Swale, doesn't pretend to be deeper than its premise. It functions as a holiday release from a streaming platform giant – the complexity remains surface-level. Its storyline is destined to be uncomplicated: former spouses Russ (Charlie Cox) and Anna (Zooey Deschanel), forced to acknowledge that their individual funk is surpassed by their dog's, take a therapeutic trip to a dog-friendly resort. Once there, as expected, they will surely realize the idea that they should reunite. The supporting cast – including Chris Redd, Jasmine Mathews, and others – are crafted as eccentric, underutilized, or over-the-top. The film's look has the quality of a streaming service original, with a holiday backdrop that is visibly contrived – exemplified by fake snow clinging to verdant foliage as a warm climate doubles as a cold December city.
Where the Film Shines
If these familiar elements merge into something enjoyable depends on the actors' work and the viewer's appetite for cinematic comfort food. Regarding the second aspect, Merv knows its audience – the kind who scroll endlessly for dog videos. Audiences receive a wealth of scenes focused on the pet. The central draw is the dog, and though it results in some awkward editing between the pet's "lines" and the actors' responses, the movie delivers on walking sequences, dog depression, and, ultimately, a tail-wagging resolution.
The Two-Legged Cast
This level of success does not extend for the interpersonal drama. Its style wavers between emotional depth, broad humor, formulaic romance, and physical comedy, not quite landing a single genre. This is not Cox's performance, who is willing to embrace the silliness and cringe inherent in the bizarre setting. He brings a likable self-deprecation that supplies much of the film's charm for this on-the-rocks couple. Her co-star Deschanel, true to her usual style, injects a particular brand of eccentricity that will click for some but not others. Her Anna comes across as a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (It should be noted, Merv himself manages acting depressed – he may not be a canine thespian of that caliber, he remains a very good boy.)
The film attempts to provide depth to the central romance for moments when the dog is absent – a bit of a pity, since the title character is undoubtedly the best part of this film designed for charm. Unsurprisingly, it achieves only baseline competence. The reason for the split could have been more nuanced with less exposition and less blunt explanation. Ultimately, Merv is slight and sweet, hitting every expected note. Creating a movie with this canine conflict is not terrible – but I wouldn't call it a brilliant concept.
- Merv becomes available on Amazon Prime Video starting December 10.
